Great Siege of Gibraltar

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Part of the War of American Independence

"The Siege and Relief of Gibraltar", 13 September 1782, by John Singleton Copley

Date	June 24, 1779 - February 7, 1783
Location	Gibraltar
Result	Decisive British victory

Combatants

Great Britain

Spain
France

Commanders

George Eliott

Duc de Crillon

Strength

5,500 to 7,000 men; 96 guns

40,000 men; 246 guns

Casualties

333 killed
911 wounded
536 died from disease

5,000 killed, wounded, captured, and missing

The Great Siege of Gibraltar was an unsuccessful attempt by Spain and France to capture Gibraltar from the British during the War of American Independence.

In June of 1779, Spain declared war against Great Britain as France had done the year before.

In July military forces of both France and Spain laid siege to the British garrison at Gibraltar. This would start the Great Siege of Gibraltar. The British forces, led by George Augustus Eliott, 1st Baron Heathfield, suffered bombardment and blockade for more than three years. The most horrific engagement of the siege took place on September 13, 1782 when a combined Franco-Spanish assault involving 100,000 men and 48 ships attacked the British. The garrison survived the assault.

Finally, in February of 1783 the siege was lifted. George Augustus Eliott was awarded the Knight of the Bath and was created 1st Baron Heathfield of Gibraltar. The Treaties of Versailles reaffirmed previous treaties.

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Gibraltar topics

History
Battle of Gibraltar · Treaty of Utrecht · Great Siege of Gibraltar · Gibraltarian real · Death on the Rock · Aurora incident